Can closing machine



April 1941- 1M. HOTHERSALL 2,238,056

CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1938 DH 'ENTOR.

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ATTORNEY5 Patented Apr. 15, 1941 can CLOSING MACHINE John M. H othersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,994

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for closing or sealing fibre containers or cans by a seaming of a fibre cover to a fibre can body and has particular reference to a seaming head heated to condition the adhesive so that the resulting seam will be tighter and therefore more secure than otherwise.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein the seaming head operates on a planetary principle and is heated by electricity so that it will perform its seaming or can closing function in an efficient and economical manner.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawa ing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof..

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of a fibre can closing machine embodying 'the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 15 an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and looking upward; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper end of a fibre can sealed on the closing machine of Fig. 1, the view being partly in side elevation, and partly in section to illustrate the end seam conatruction.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawing illustrates the principal parts of a can closing machine which is adapted to secure a fibre can cover A (Fig. 3) to a fibre can body B in a seam C by an interfolding of suitable flange parts formed on both cover and body. The seam illustrated is preferably a reg ular double seam having its parts bonded together by a thermoplastic adhesive. The adhesive may be in the cover curl, or on the body flange, or may be on both. In any case, the ad'- hesive is preferably dry.

When the container is placed in the sealing ma chine for closing, the cover A is already resting loosely on top of the body B ready for the sealing operation. In the machine the adhesive is melted into a tacky condition and simultaneously with the melting operation the flange parts of the cover and body are reformed and pressed tightly-together by a rolling action while the adhesive is tacky thereby producing the tight double seam mentioned above in which its parts are bonded together by the melted adhesive.

In the can closing machine, the container to be closed is supported in an upright position on a rotatable and vertically movable lifter pad H (Fig.1). The pad is carried on the upper end of a vertical rod l2 mounted in a hearing sleeve II secured in a bearing block it formed on a bracket armiii projecting from a frame it which may be the main frame of the machine. The rod and its pad may be lifted vertically in any suitable manner operating in time with the other movable parts of the machine.

When the container is in .its upper position the cover A engages with a rotatable chuck 20 of -a seaming head generally indicated by the numeral 2|. This chuck is located above the lifter pad and in vertical alignment therewith.

The chuck fits snugly within the cover and provides a backing or support for the cover curl.

The chuck is carried on the lower: end of a vertical chuck shaft 22 journaled ina pair of spaced bearings 23 formed on bracket arms 24 which project from the mainframe I8. The chuck shaft is maintainedin" place against vertical displacement by a collar 25 which is pinned on the shaft and by a collar 28 which is formed integrally with the shaft.

The chuck shaft 22 is continuously rotated. For this purpose the chuck shaft is provided with a bevel gear 28 which meshes with a. driving bevel gear 29 mounted on a drive shaft 3| journaled in bearings 32' formed in the main frame ii. The drive shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

Rotation of the chuck 20 frictionally rotates the can and the lifter pad II, the pad remaining in its raised position in order to hold the lifted can tight against the chuck. While the can is thus rotated the seam C is formed as will now be explained. V

Forming of theseam C is accomplished by an annular seamingring 35 which surrounds the chuck 20 and is normally concentric'therewith. The inner diameter of the ring is larger than the outside diameter of the chuckso that com siderable clearance space obtains between them. The inner edge of the ring is formed with a seaming groove 28. The outer edge is provided with a ball race 31 which constitutes the inner race of a ball bearing 88. An outer race 39 of the bearing is secured in a recess ll formed in an enlarged head of a horizontal slide member 42 carried in a slideway 43 in the frame i6. The seaming ring 35 is therefore free to rotate in the slide member.

Above the seaming ring 35 and in engagement therewith there is disposed an electric induction coil 45 which surrounds the chuck 20 and which is located in a bore 46 formed in the slide 42. An overcap 41 having a clearance hole 48 for the chuck shaft 22 is secured to the top of the slide and holds the coil in place.

Electric energy is supplied to the coil 45 from any suitable source of supply of such energy by way of lead wires 5|, 52 which connect with the coil. This energy continuously flows through the coil, setting up an induced current in the adjacentchuck '20, seaming ring 35, slide 42, and overcap 41. The chuck 20 and the seaming ring 35 are preferably made of stainless steel while the slide member 42 is preferably cast iron. The induced current passes through the more electrically resistant stainless steel parts with greater difficulty than the cast iron slide member and hence the chuck and the seaming ring become heated. It is this heat which melts into a tacky condition the adhesive on the can parts in engagement with the chuck 20.

While the can is rotated within this heated seaming head 2| the slide member 42 is shifted transversely thereof to effect the seaming operation. This shifts the seaming ring 35 into frictional engagement with the flanged parts of the can and cover which are backed up by the chuck 20. This shifted position of the seaming ring is best shown in The rotatingchuck thus rolls the can and cover flanges between it and the seaming ring groove 36 in a. planetary action, the ring rotating by friction in its ball bearing 38. It is this rolling action which inte'rfolds the heated can and cover flanges and the interposed cement thus forming the can and cover parts into the double se am C with the adhesive acting as abond for the joint.

Shifting of the slide member 42 to bringabout this planetary rolling action is effected by an edge car n55. which is mounted on acam shaft 58 carried" in-bearings formed in a bracket 51 on the mainframe IS. The cam shaft is rotated Kai any suitable manner in time with the other oving parts of the machine. The cam operx'ates on a cam roller 58 carried on one end of an arm 59 ,which is supported on a pivot pin 6| securedin lugs 62 formed on the main frame It.

Intermediate its length the cam arm 59 is formed with a recess 65 which houses a compression spring 58 engaging against a pin 61 secured in the outer end of the slide member 42. The rotating cam 55 thus rocks the cam arm 59 and hence presses the spring 66 against the pin 61 and thereby shifts the slide member 42 and its seaming ring 35 into the can seaming position shown in Fig. 2 with the seaming ring in eccentric relationv to the chuck 20. The spring forms a yieldable connection between the cam and the slide member and thus exerts a predetermined uniform seaming pressure on the seaming ring.

After completion of the seaming operation the H. 12 formed in the frame ii, the spring being interposed between the bottom of the recess and a pin 13 which is secured in the slide member 42.

In the original or returned position of the slide member 42 the seaming ring is again concentric with the chuck 20. There is thus sufficient room to release the seamed can without interference with the ring. This releasing of the can is effected by a lowering of the lifter pad II, the closed can being returned to its lowermost position of the pad from which it may be removed in any suitable manner. This completes the can closing operation.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will, be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can closing, machine adapted to seal, a fibre can cover onto a fibre can body by an interfolding of flanges thereof with an interposed thermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a chuck for engaging a cover to be sealed on a said body, a bodily movable seaming head, an annular seaming member carried by and rotatable relative to said seaming head and surrounding said chuck for producing a seam by interfolding of can parts held in said seaming head, means in said seaming head for heating said can parts and the-adhesive thgebetween, and means for bodily moving said seaming head at right angles to the axis of said can and said chuck into engagement with the heated can parts to be seamed.

2. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto a fibre can body by an interfolding of flanges thereof with an interposed thermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a chuck for engaging a cover to be sealed on a said body, a'bodily movable annular seaming head surrounding said chuck for producing a seam by interfolding of can parts, means for holding a can to be closed in said seaming head in engagement with said chuck, means in said seaming head for heating said'can parts and the adhesive therebetween, and means for bodily moving said seaming head at right angles to the axis of said can and'said chuck into engagement with the heated can parts to be seamed.

3. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto a fibre can body by an interfolding of flanges thereof with an interposed thermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a chuck for engaging a cover to be sealed on a said body, a bodily movable annular seaming. head surrounding said chuck, a seaming ring carried by and rotatable relative to said seaming head for producing a seam by interfolding of the can parts, a lifter pad for raising a can to be closed into said seaming head into engagement with said chuck, an electric induction coil in said seaming head for heating said can parts and the adhesive to produce an interfolded seam which is bonded by said adhesive, and means for bodily moving said seaming head at right angles to the axis of said can and said chuck into engagement with the heated can parts to 'be seamed.

4. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto a fibre can body by an interfolding of flanges thereof with an interposed "thermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a rotatable seaming Heed chuck, a bodily movable seaming ring surrounding said chuck and in adhesive providing a bond.

5. In a can closing machine adapted to seal a fibre can cover onto a fibre can body by an interi'olding of flanges thereof with an interposed thermoplastic-4 adhesive, the combination of a one 3 tional-ly rotatable therewith, a. litter pad for raising a can to be closed into said ring and into en- Easement with said chuck, means adJacent said ring and said chuck for heating the can parts therebetween and also the adhesive, and cam actuated devices for bodily shitting said ring at right angles to.the axis of said can into engagement with the heated can parts to clamp the same against said chuck, thereby eflecting the tormationof the can seam by a planetary rolling of the chuck inside the ring.

' 'i. In a can closing machine adapted to seal rotatable seaming head chuck, a bodily movable seaming ring concentric with said chuck and in spaced relation thereto, a lifter pad for raising a can to be closed into said ring and into engagement with said chuck, means adjacent said ring and said chuck for heating the can parts and the interposed adhesive, actuating devices for bodily shifting said ring at right angles to the axis of said can into engagement with the heated can parts and for clamping them against said chuck, thereby forming the can seam by a planetary rolling of the chuck inside the ring, and a yieldable connection intermediate said ring and said actuating devices 1dr creating a predeterrying a thermoplastic adhesive which is incorporated in a bonded seam, the combination of a rotatable seaming head chuck, a bodily movable seaming ring surrounding said chuck and frica fibre can cover onto a fibre can body by'an interfolding 0t flanges thereof and with a said flange carrying a thermoplastic adhesive which is incorporated in a bonded scam, the combination 01' a rotatable seaming head chuck, a slide adjacent said chuck, said slide having an enlarged head surrounding said chuck, a seamin ring surrounding said chuck and floatingly mounted in said slide head, an electric induction coil also carried in said slide head and surrounding the chuck tor heating said chuck and said ring, a litter pad for raising a can to be closed into said slide head and for clamping it against said chuck, a cam for shifting said slide relative to said chuck, and a yieldable connection between said cam and said slide, the shifting of said slideclamping the can parts betweenthe heated seaming ring and said heated chuck thereby effecting a planetary rolling action between chuck and ring while interfolding and .heating said interposed can partswhich produces an adhesive bonded seam for the can, the said yieldable connection insuring a predetermined seaming pressure for the lnterfolded parts.

JOHN M. HOTHEPSAIL. 

